Shoe last



Feb. 1, 1938. J HARYDCZAK' 7, v

SHOE LAST Filed March 26, I937 2 shee es-sheer. l

' INVENTOR.

' c7066 [ii Z22 czaZ, E BY I ATTORNEY 38. J. HARYDCZAK 2,107,250

SHOE LAST Filed March 26, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 j I: Cir-.11

IN V EN TOR.

Patented Feb. 1, 1938 UNITED STATES Z,lt7,250

PA'rsar 'oFrieE .fiippiication March 26,

10 Claims.

This invention relates to shoe lasts which are used in the manufacture of shoes. It has particular relation to a means for securing fastening of the fore and heel parts of the lasts together.

In shoe factories it has been found to be a dimcult matter to secure the fore and heel parts of the last together yet always having them easily removable through the joint connecting the two parts together. In order to be effective the hinge means must hold the toe and heel section firmly in position and without any sliding movement from side to side during the course of the manufacture. The two parts must be held rigidly relative to each other during the time work is being done on the shoe and yet when it is desired to remove the last after completion of the necessary work, the connection between the two parts must be such as to permit of a swinging of the heel part relative to the fore part in order to readily remove the last from the shoe.

The primary object of this invention is the provision of an improved connecting means between the heel part and the fore part of a last.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved last part-connecting means which will have a toggle eifect to hold the parts together in one position and readily release in another position.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a last part-connecting means having pivots in the sections and a double spring action tending to hold the two last parts in their proper relative positions.

Still another object of the invention is the pro- 35 vision of a two-member last-connecting means each member of which operates to tend to hold the two pivots close together.

A still other object of the invention is the provision of a last-connecting means having two 40 members which co-act together, which provide three separate distinct yet co-acting actions to hold fore and heel parts of the last in proper relation to each other yet affording an easily released device to provide for the ready removal of the last from the shoe.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a connecting means for connecting the last parts together which comprises two spring links, one link coming into operation after the other has reached a predetermined stretching.

Referring to the drawings wherein I have illustrated my invention.

Fig. 1 is a side view partly in section showing the details of the invention.

1937, Serial No. 133,253

Fig. 2 is a side view of the outside of the last shown in Fig. 1 but with the heel part in. position for insertion or withdrawal from a shoe.

Fig. 3 is' an enlarged view showing the coaction between the parts.

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the connection means.

Fig. 5 is a fragmental sectional end view of the invention taken on the line 55 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a cross section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3.

Figs. 7 and 8 are respectively elevation and plan views of a modified form of the invention.

Figs. 9 and 10 are respectively elevation and plan views of still another form of the invention. 15

Fig, 11 is a view of a. last having the pivot members of the last. reversed.

Figs. 12 and 13, 14 and 15, 16 and 17 are respective side and edge views of modifications of the invention. 7

Similar reference characters refer to the same or similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 to 6, 20' designates the fore part of a shoemakers last and 2i, the heel part.

The fore part and heel part have co-acting complementary pivot portions 26 and 2H, the former in the embodiment herein described, being a portion of a hollow cylindrical surface and the latter a portion of a cylindrical solid forming a portion of the heel part 2|.

The connection between the fore part and the heel part co-acts with the parts 20 2 i to form a toggle which will retain the parts in the position illustrated in Fig. 1 or the position illustrated in Fig. 2, at the will of the operative.

The connection comprises the pivot pins 22 of the fore part and the pivot pin 23 of the heel part. These pivot pins 22 and 23 may be made identical or they may be made distinctive as desired.

The part of the connection which connects the two pivot pins 22, 23 together, as illustrated in Figs. 1, 3, 4, 5, and 6, comprises two co-acting links 26, 25. The link 24 is of cylindrical form and may be large steel wire or rod as illustrated. There is an eye portion at each end to receive the corresponding pivot pin 22 or 23. The diameters of the openings 23 22 are preferably larger than necessary to receive the pivot pins 22 and 23 for a purpose to be described.

The link. 25 is in this embodiment made of sheet metal. It is provided with openings 22 and. 23 for reception of the pivot pins 22, 23,

respectively. These openings 22 23 are larger than necessary to merely receive the pivots 22, 23. This greater size is particularly desirable in a longitudinal direction, as will be described. In the embodiment shown, the outer limits of the openings of the link 24 and of the link 25, are a greater distance apart than the opposite outer portions of the pivot pins 22, 23 as shown in either Fig. 1 or Fig. 2. This is particularly necessary in the embodiment shown, in the case of the link 25, as the eye portions of the link 25 are not operative until about the time the toggle is passing over its dead center.

It will be noted that at each pivot pin 22, 23 there is provided, if desirable, means to cause the pivot pins 22, 23 to be resiliently gripped. Taking for example the pivot pin 22, the link 25 has a flange 25 This flange 25 is in a position to resiliently press upon the end portion 24 of the link 24 in such a manner that when the pivot pin 22 is in place, the latter is confined between the curved inner surface of the end portion 24 and the opposite side of the opening 22 The proportions and construction of the pivot pin 22, the side of the opening 22 and the inner side of the end portion 22 are such that there is a tendency always to move the two pivot pins 22, 23 toward each other as illustrated in Fig. 3.

The result of the construction just described is that a double spring action is obtained. There is first the natural spring action of the body of the spring link 24 and the additional efiect of the confining of the pivot pins 22, 23 between the opposite sides of the corresponding openings in the links 24, 25. It Will be understood that the spring flange 25 cooperates with the opposite side of the opening 23 on the pivot 23 in a manner described for the opposite ends of the links 24, 25 with the pivot pin 22.

When the shoe last has been inserted or is about to be removed, and consequently the heel part is to be pivoted relative to the fore part, the pivot pins 22 and 23 necessarily move away from each other and the toggle construction comes into action. The outside limits of the openings 22 and 23 of the link 25 are such that just before the toggle goes over dead center, the pivot pins 22 and 23 will engage the outside longitudinal limits of the openings 22 and 23 in the link 25. At this point, there is an additional spring action caused and the play which is provided by the offset portion of the link 25 and which is designated 25. Thus, while passing over the dead center of the toggle, there is a spring action tending to draw the pivot pins 22 and 23 toward each other which is exerted directly by the outer limits of the openings 22 23 and 22 23 of the two links 24, 25 respectively. This direct contact with the outer ends of the pivot pin openings in the link 25 with the pivot pins 22 and 23, has the effect to reinforce the spring action of the link 24 and to prevent the breaking of the link 24 when the-shoe last is improperly used. In addition to this, should the spring 24 become broken, the fore part and the heel part of the last will be retained together until a new link 24 is inserted.

These actions operate with the pivot portions 20, 2 I to form a toggle as clearly shown by inspection of the connection in Fig. 1 and the positions of the pivot pins 22, 23 in Fig. 2.

In addition to these spring actions which tend to hold the two parts of the last in either one of the adjusted positions, there is still another spring action illustrated in Fig. 5. The link 25 has a struck-out portion 25 which has already been described and which is illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5. This portion 25 is so proportioned relative to the widths of slots 20 2I and the link 24, that there is a resilient contact between the opposite walls of the slots 20 2 I 24 and the link 25 at 25. This resilient contact holds the fore part and heel part in alignment and also tends to hold the parts in either of the adjusted positions.

In Figs. 7 and 8, the spring link is a hook I24 of a slightly different S-shape from the link 24 already described. The sheet metal link I25 has the lugs I25 and I25 which correspond to the spring lugs 25, 25 already described. These lugs I25, I25 force the sides of the pivot pins 22, 23 against the opposite sides of the openings I22 I23 as has been described for the structure in Figs. 1-6. The struck-out portion I25 corresponds to the similar part 25.

In Figs. 9 and 10, the spring link 224 takes the form of a link wherein the bent ends turn toward each other. The sheet metal link 225 has a single lug 225 which acts upon both ends of the link 225 and as shown in Fig. 9, the pivot pins 22, 23 are held between the sides of the opening in the link 225 and the opposite sides of the openings 222 and 223 In this form, the spring lug 225 must have suflicient strength to take care of both ends of the connection.

When tension is exerted on any one of the links 24, I24, 224, the action of the spring lugs causes the pins 22, 23 to slide along on thesides of the openings as at 23 I23 and 223, respectively. This brings intoplay all of the spring actions present as the toggle goes over center. After passing the dead center, the reverse action takes place and the parts of the connection return to their normal position.

In the modification illustrated in Figs. 12 and 13, the pivot pins 22 and 23 normally engage the outer portions of the respective eye portions of the spring link 324. It will be noted that the shape of the link 325 is a flat Z. The central portion of the link 325 passes from one side to the other of the link 324 forming a bent resilient body portion capable of slight elongation under tension. The bent portions 325 are so positioned that when the links are in place, these bent portions 325 will engage with the walls of the slot in the last.

In the construction shown on Figs. 14 and 15, the link 424 has its ends in eye portions which are bent toward each other, thus providing a resilient bow portion intermediate the eye portions. A fiat link 425 is provided with a curved spring portion intermediate its ends and having contacting portions 425 which engage the walls of the slot in the shoe last. These contacting portions 425 which engage the walls of the slot of the shoe last operate in a similar manner to the bent portion 25 which is illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6. They perform the doublefunctions of furnishing additional spring action when the pivot pins 22 and 23 engage the outer limits of the openings 422 and 423 and also resist movement of the connection as a whole with the slot and the last.

In the form shown in Figs. 16 and 17, the link member 524 is similar in construction to the link 424 already described. Its action in this construction is the same as that of link 424. The link 525 has an offset portion 525 which furnishes a slightly additional length in the link 525 as the toggle goes over the dead center and also as in the case oi the points 425, the part 525 engages the wall of the slot to resist movement during the pivoting of the parts of the last.

In the forms of the invention shown in Figs. 124.7 inclusive there are three spring actions instead of four as described for the form shown in Figs. 3-6. The first action functions when the parts or" the last are pivoted. relatively to each other, which action comes from the spring 325, $26, or 52 as the case may be. As soon as movement begins, the portion 2325 425, or 525 resists movement by pressing against the wall of the slot in the last. This resilient resistive action takes place to retard the pivoting of the last. As the pivot pins 22 and 23 move-away from each other, they approach the dead center of the toggle and then they also reach the outer ends of the resistive openings in the link 325, 325, or 525 as the case may be. Upon contact with the outer portions of these openings, the third spring action comes from the flexing of the offset portions of the respective links 325, 625, or 525.

In Fig. 11, the last members 52% and i2! have their respective pivot members I28 corresponding to the part 2%, and are, corresponding to the part 29*, in reversed positions from those shown in Fig. 2. The operation of any one of the connections in either the form shown in Fig. l or that shown in Fig. 11 is the same.

The use of this invention insures proper registration between the two parts and also proper relative position during the manufacturing operations. However, it may be easily released and inserted or withdrawn. The construction is sin gle and cheap of manufacture.

While I have described in detail embodiments of my invention, I desire to have it understood that these are merely illustrative and that modifications and changes may be made without cleparting from the spirit of the invention or its scope as claimed.

Having described my invention what I claim is:

1. A shoemakers last comprising a fore part and a heel part, the two parts having co-acting complementary pivot portions, means connecting the two parts together including a link member, a pair of pivot pins for connecting the link member to the fore and heel parts respectively and means for resiliently forcing the pivot pins against the sides of the link openings, the pivot pins for the link and the complementary pivot portions being so positioned as to form a toggle to securely hold the fore and heel parts in manufacturing position or in inserting position, at the will of the operative.

2. A shoemakers last comprising a fore part and a heel part, the two parts having coacting complementary pivot portions, means connecting the two parts together including a link member having a resilient body portion and resilient open-end pivot-connecting portions, a pair of pivot pins for connecting the link member to the fore and heel parts respectively and means for resiliently forcing the pivot pins against the sides of the respective link openings, the pivot pins for the link and the complementary pivot portions of the fore and heel portions being so positioned as to form a toggle to securely hold the fore and heel parts in manufacturing position or in inserting position, at the will of the operative.

3. A shoemakers last comprising a fore part and a heel part, the two parts having co-acting complementary pivot portions, means connecting the two parts together including a link member having a resilient body portion .and resilient open-end pivot-connecting portions, 2. pair of pivot pins for connecting the link member to the fore and rear parts respectively, and means for forcing the pivot pins against the sides of the respective link openings and at the-same time holding the link against the adjacent portions of the fore and heel parts, the pivot pins for the link and the complementary pivot portions of the fore and heel portions being so positioned as to form a toggle to securely hold the fore and heel parts in manufacturing position or in inserting position at the will of the operative.

4. A connection for connecting the pivots of fore and heel parts of a shoemakers last comprising, a link member having a resilient body portion and resilient eye portions, one of the eye portions having an opening larger in a longitudinal direction than the corresponding diameter of the pivot pin, a second link member having eye portions for engagement With the pivot pins, one of the pivot openings being of a greater size longitudinally than the corresponding di ameter of the pivot pin and a means connected to one of the link members to force one of the eyes of the other link member to contact the pivot pin off-center from a line drawn through the centers of the openings.

5. A connection for connecting the pivot pins of fore and heel parts of a shoemakers last comprising, a link member having a resilient body portionand resilient eye portions, the eye portions having openings larger in a longitudinal direction than the corresponding diameters of the pivot pins, a second link member having eye portions for engagement with the pivot pins, the pivot pin openings being of a greater size longitudinally than the corresponding diameters of the pivot pins and means connected to one of the link members to force the eyes of the other link member to contact the respective pivot pins offcenter from a line drawn through the centers of the openings.

6. A connection for connecting the pivot pins of fore and heel parts of a shoemakers last comprising, a link member having a resilient body portion and eye portions at the end of the body portion, a second member lying against the link member, the second member having resilient portions for pressing against the link member and against the side of the opening in one of the parts of the last.

'7. A connection for connecting the pivot pins of fore and heel parts of a shoemakers last, comprising a link member having a resilient body portion and resilient eye portions at the end of the body portion, a second link member lying against the first link member, the second link member having resilient portions for pressing against the first link member and against the side of the opening in one of the parts of the last.

8. A connection for connecting the pivot pins of fore and heel parts of a shoemakers last comprising a link member having a resilient body and eye portions at the end of the body portion, a second link member lying against the first mentioned link member and having a resilient portion intermediate its ends and normally having the opposite outer portions of its pivot pin openings a slightly greater distance apart than the corresponding parts of the first mentioned link.

9. A shoemakers last comprising a fore part 75 and a heel part, the two parts having co-acting complementary pivot portions, slots in the last parts, means connecting the two parts together including a link member having a resilient body and eye portions at the end of the body portion, a second link member lying against the first mentioned link member and having a resilient portion intermediate its ends and normally having the opposite outer portions of its pivot part openings a slightly greater distance apart than the corresponding parts of the first mentioned link, the intermediate portion of the second named link member having a resilient engagement with the sides of the slots of the last members.

10. A shoemakers last comprising a fore part and a heel part, the two parts having co-acting complementary pivot portions and slots in alignment with each other, means for connecting the pivoted portions together including pivot pins across the slots, a link member having a resilient body portion and resilient eye portions, the eye portions having openings larger in a longitudinal direction than the corresponding diameters of the pivot pins, a second link member having eye portions for engagement with the pivot pins, the pivot pin openings being of a greater size longitudinally than the corresponding diameters of the pivot pins and a means adjacent each on one link for co-action with the corresponding eye of the other link to force the corresponding eye into contact with its pivot pin at a point ofi-oenter from a line drawn through the center of the openings of the first-named link, one of the links having a resilient portion for engagement with one side of the slots in the fore and heel parts and for forcing the opposite side of the other link into contact with the opposite side of the slots.

JOSEPH HARYDCZAK. 

